Itacil promotes early detection of potato moth.

The Agrarian and Technological Institute of Castilla y León (Itacil), through its Observatory of Agricultural Pests and Diseases, has signed a collaboration agreement with the Interprofessional Organization of Potato (OIPACyL) and FMC Agricultural Solutions to promote detection methods for the early potato moth.Fluoromea operculella), as well as other pests and diseases that may affect the crop.

Monitoring is carried out using adult traps equipped with a pheromone diffuser that allows the presence of this lepidopteran to be detected and its flight curve to be assessed in order to determine the optimal time for phytosanitary treatment. These traps are located in the municipalities of Campaspero, Fuente el Sol, Alejos, Valdestillas, Villalbarba, Castroverde de Cerrato and the Samadueñas estate in Valladolid; in Santjuste de San Juan Bautista and Fuente de Santa Cruz in the province of Segovia; and in Cantalpino, Calvarraza de Abajo and Villaflores in Salamanca.

The assessment is carried out using the CartoDruidOBSPLA application developed by Itacyl, which includes a specific module dedicated to potato cultivation, through which inspectors can access data in the field and obtain estimates of pest pressure levels in real time. The results of this monitoring will be communicated to the sector through a weekly newsletter and through instant messaging services to the network of collaborating farmers that are part of the Pest Management Observatory, OIPACyL and FMC.

Larva P. operculella It pierces the tubers, creating irregular tunnels containing excrement that can serve as sources of rot and entry points for other diseases that devalue the potato or make it unsuitable for sale. Damage can continue during storage.

To prevent this, the farmer should use moth-proof seed potatoes, control nightshade adventitious plants, carry out deep soil cultivation, avoid long periods without watering, and leave the tubers in the field for as little time as possible. In addition, it is very important to thoroughly clean the warehouse, as well as place nets on the windows and monitor the environmental conditions of the warehouse.